Description and History of Site:-
Two horse-shoe shaped sumps connected by a culvert beneath the canal. Stone and timber. The culvert carries a stream draining the land to the south-east under the canal and discharges into a drain just north of, and parallel to, the line of the canal. Now in the care of the Canal and River Trust. Constructed by the Aire and Calder Navigation Company between 1775-8 under the supervision of their principal engineer William Jessop, assisted by resident engineer John Gott. At the time the canal was projected, there were concerns that the area was prone to flooding and so Jessop proposed the construction of five culverts to carry surface water across and beneath the line of the canal to prevent damage and inundation. Of these five, four remain at (from the south) Tankard Bridge NYK01849, Paperhouse NYK01850, Lund NYK01851 and Brayton NYK01822.
Interestingly none of the culvert's are aligned with existing water-courses. All are semi-circular in design with an open
side away from the canal and were constructed in Bramley Fall Stone. Designed to allow flood water from the north and west sides of the canal to drain to the Rivers Aire and Ouse. There is some evidence that the canal towpath which is on the north and west side of the canal has been built up in places to be between 1 and 2 meters above the opposite bank. This would help direct flood waters towards the culverts.
Further Reading and References:-Hadfield C & Skempton A K, William Jessop Engineer, David and Charles, 1979
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Key Words :- canal tunnel inverted syphon flood defence
Viewing the Site :- From the canal towpath
Address :- Brayton, Seaton, North Yorkshire, YO8 9DU
Grid Ref :- SE 60616 29777
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.760831 , Long -1.082022
Local Authority :- Selby District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1473824,
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1778 -
Record Date :- 15 December 2021
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson
Grid Ref :- SE 60616 29777
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.760831 , Long -1.082022
Local Authority :- Selby District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1473824,
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1778 -
Record Date :- 15 December 2021
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson